Columbia businesswoman charged with arson trying to have bond conditions amended; her husband died in Stadium Boulevard crash

An attorney for a well-known Columbia restaurant owner charged with arson in southeast Missouri’s Kennett has filed a motion to amend her bond conditions.

Dunklin County prosecutors have charged 43-year-old Crystal Umfress with second degree arson, a class D felony. Umfress, who owns Casa Maria’s Mexican cantina on Grindstone Parkway, has hired Poplar Bluff defense attorney Daniel Moore to represent her.

Umfress’ current bond is $65,000, electronic monitoring and curfew. Counselor Moore has filed a new motion stating that Umfress is prepared to pay the $65,000 cash bond but that the monitoring company says she’ll need to travel to Cape Girardeau to get the device installed. Moore’s motion says Umfress works at Casa Maria’s each day from 7 am until 11 pm, and notes her husband just died in a horrific head-on crash on Columbia’s Stadium Boulevard. Moore says Umfress needs to make funeral arrangements and is now the sole caretaker of their children.

Her husband, 48-year-old Jesus Mendoza-Chavez, died at a Columbia hospital after Columbia Police say his vehicle crossed the center line on Stadium Boulevard and struck a second vehicle head-on. The other motorist was killed as well.

The court has not ruled yet on the motions, and Umfress has not been arrested yet.